Hockey World Cup 2018: South Africa 1-1 Canada
Hockey World Cup 2018: South Africa vs Canada: Nqobile Ntuli's 43rd minute goal for South Africa was cancelled out by Canada skipper Scott Tupper in the 45th minute in a 1-1 draw at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
Published : Dec 02, 2018 16:54 IST
| Welcome to Sportstar 's minute-by-minute blog of the Hockey World Cup 2018 Pool C match of South Africa vs Canada. |
FULL-TIME: Canada 1-1 South Africa
60' A draw will suit Canada as it has two goals to South Africa's one goal in this game.
58' South Africa piles on the pressure with another attack and appeals for a penalty corner. However, replays show that Scott Tupper's tackle was valid. Canada counter through Keegan Periera as South Africa scrambles to get the ball to safety.
58' Austin Smith blasts the penalty corner into the crowd, but it seemed that the ball has taken its flight due to a Canadian stick and South Africa gets a free hit inside the 25 metres.
57' South Africa coach Mark Hopkins takes a gamble by throwing an 11th outfield player as a push-back and it results in a penalty corner.
55' Another mistake by South Africa gifts a penalty corner to Canada. But Rassie Pieterse makes a timely save.
54' Mohammed Mea misses a through ball from Austin from outside the 25 yards which beats the Canadian defence. Mea could have done better to trap the ball.
52' The tempo of the match has been subdued after the three minutes of goalmouth action at the end of third quarter.
| Trivia: This is the 10th goal from the penalty spot for Scott Tupper. |
48' What a strike that was from Julian Hykes! The veteran midfielder turns around his marker and shoots from the edge of the circle which narrowly misses the goal.
Third Quarter
45' CANADA EQUALISES THROUGH PENALTY STROKE! South Africa's lead lasted just two minutes as a penalty corner for Canada ends up hitting Rhett Halkett's foot, prompting the referee to award a penalty stroke. Skipper Scott Tupper steps up and makes it count!
43' GOAL SOUTH AFRICA! Nqobile Ntuli breaks the deadlock with a composed finish after he is played into the circle by Drummond. The forward turns around to beat the goalkeeper and applies the finishing touch at the far post.
| Trivia: Canada has faced South Africa eight times previously, with the African champion coming out victorious five times and Canada winning twice and one match ending in a draw. |
38' South Africa wins three penalty corners in a row. It is inaccuracy on two occasions and indecision on another that costs the African champion the opening goal.
37' Canada wins the penalty corner, but makes a mess of the opportunity after trapping it well outside the circle and thus making the shot invalid.
36' Iain Smythe makes a superb run down the right flank to the baseline and cuts back to Kirkpatrick in the centre. But a poor trap by the forward results in the ball hitting his leg and a free hit is given to South Africa.
31' Another chance goes begging for South Africa as a right-wing cross from Hykes is left astray by Nicholas Spooner in the middle. This is fifth such chance South Africa has wasted.
| This is a must-win match for both teams if they are to remain in contention for the Cross-Over event. |
HALF-TIME: South Africa 0-0 Canada
Second Quarter
30' Canada almost in the front! James Kirkpatrick finds himself unmarked inside the cricle, but his shot is blocked by Rassie Pieterse.
28' South Africa is going using width on the wings to attack, but is unable to find spaces in the final quarter where Canada looks to be playing the waiting game.
| Trivia: Scott Tupper is the most capped Canadian player on the pitch with 286 caps and has scored 58 goals since 2013. |
24' Canada finally has a spell on the ball, but South Africa's pressing the midfield makes John Smythe cough up possession near the halfline.
21' James Kirkpatrick receives a green card and South Africa wins a third penalty corner. There was enough pace in Austin Smith's dragflick but Carter places himself perfectly to block the penalty corner.
20' What a chance that was for Canada! James Kirkpatrick pounces on a defensive error from South Africa and tries to shoot, but the defenders make a last-ditch clearance to keep it out.
17' South Africa shows urgency in attack as a defeat in this match will make its next match against Belgium a must-win.
First Quarter
Canada and amazing goalkeepers are the perfect combo. Here are Antoni Kindler's heroics against Belgium in the first match
15' South Africa wins two penalty corners in the final third seconds, but Austin Smith's drag flicks are saved by David Carter.
11' MISS! Daayan Cassiem misses a sitter after Nicholas Spooner's cross from the left wing beats the defenders as the latter flashes his shot wide!
9' South Africa is bossing the possession but so far it has not yielded anything meaningful inside the penalty area.
Fans have arrived for the Super Sunday!
2' Dayaan Cassiem makes the first inroads into the Canadian circle, but Nicholas Spooner's collision with the goalkeeper results in a free hit for the defence.
1' We are underway for the second round of Pool C matches at the Kalinga Stadium.
How they qualified?
South Africa
World Ranking: 15
South Africa, led by Mark Hopkins, finished ninth in the Hockey World League Semi-final on home soil in Johannesburg, but made it to its sixth World Cup by winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Canada
World Ranking: 11
Canada finished fifth in the Hockey World League Semi-final 2017 in London, after it stunned higher ranked India 3-2 in the 5/6th place play-off.